Tens Of Thousands Take Part In Women's March In Austin

A view of the south steps of the Texas State Capitol building during the march.

Gabriel Cristóver Pérez
/ KUT

Thousands of people turned out in Austin today to march in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. Austin's march was one of more than 600 marches around the world organized to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump and rally around a variety of issues, including reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration and the environment.

While there are no official estimates, organizers say at least 50,000 people participated in the march. Volunteers who passed out stickers to people as they arrived ran out of the 30,000 stickers on hand by 11 a.m., lead organizer Melissa Fiero said.

KUT’s Ashley Lopez and Kate McGee followed the march, which took off from the state Capitol around 12:30 p.m. The march covered at least 20 blocks, down Congress Avenue to Sixth Street, toward Lavaca, and then looped back to the Capitol for a rally.

4:25 p.m. – KUT’s Kate McGee reports that many parents used today’s march as a lesson for their children:

3:26 p.m. – The march ended back at the Capitol for a rally featuring addresses by former state Sen. Wendy Davis and motivational speaker Lizzie Velasquez. Local musicians Tameca Jones and Gina Chavez were among those who also took the stage.

Tameca Jones, Gina Chavez and Noelle Hampton perform at the closing of the rally.

Credit Gabriel Cristóver Pérez / KUT

3:05 p.m. – Former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett led the marchers down Congress Avenue.

2:26 p.m. – A look at the crowds from KUT photographers Martin do Nascimento and Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon. Speeches on the Capitol steps have begun.

Credit Martin do Nascimento / KUT

Sara Partridge of Austin on the balcony of the Intercontinental Hotel.

Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT

2:03 p.m. – Protesters continue to march downtown, with estimates putting the number of attendees at at least 30,000. KUT's Ashley Lopez says that number is a conservative estimate, as the march's organizers printed out 30,000 stickers to keep a headcount but quickly ran out of stickers as more and more attendees showed up.

Crowds continue to gather in downtown Austin, with some estimates putting the headcount at around 50,000, though KUT's Ashley Lopez spoke with an APD officer who estimated around 30,000 demonstrators had gathered around the Capitol.

Riders are reporting packed Capital Metro buses ahead of the event’s kickoff, and Capital Metro is suggesting those heading downtown to join in the march utilize the Republic Square Park station to get to and from downtown.

Donald Trump officially became the 45th president of the United States on Friday. Given the reaction to Trump’s election in Austin, there’s sure to be plenty of reaction to his ascendance to the presidency.